Run Home to Crochet

Run Home to Crochet

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Spring Bank Holiday

Hello there - on the Saturday of Spring Bank Holiday weekend (it's like winter today) we did our usual parkrun first thing.

We had a friend going to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth later that day.  We didn't tell her but myself, H and a couple of friends decided we would go over to Portsmouth and support her.

So after lunch we caught the catamaran from Ryde Pier head to Portsmouth - the Spinnaker Tower is just a short walk from Portsmouth Harbour station which is where we dock


The Spinnaker Tower is a 170-metre (560ft) landmark tower in Portsmouth and its construction started in 2001 and was completed in 2005 at a cost of £35 million


We found our friend Coral hanging around down at the bottom of the tower waiting for her slot
(look at that smile and no nerves whatsoever)
It was a totally different matter for me (I do not like heights)




I had a wander round looking at the hustle and bustle going on whilst Coral went for her briefing



These beautiful violas growing in tubs outside the pub!!


Coral came out of the little platform at the top of the picture and here she is half way down




she is nearly down with feet back on firm ground!!


All done -"can I do it again?" were her first words - one crazy lovely (still smiling) lady!!

Coral volunteered to do the abseil as she was supporting St Catherine's School in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight as this is a non-maintained residential special school for children and young people aged seven to nineteen years who have speech, language and communication needs.  Many students have multiple conditions and a range of abilities are supported.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Bank holiday Monday took us off on a journey to East Cowes to visit Osborne House.  Hubby and I are members of English Heritage and this is our favourite place to visit on the island.  "It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot" said Queen Victoria of Osborne House, her palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight

Come for a stroll around with us on this not very warm or sunny Bank Holiday Monday




front view of the main house


rear view of the main house - look at those lions standing guard




 lovely ornate well kept flower beds





a variety of statues in the garden





look at the lovely neat edge on the grass as we walked down the path to the beach




Queen Victoria's beach



Queen Victoria's seated alcove at the beach



Queen Victoria's bathing machine (changing room)




I sat in this deck chair to eat my picnic lunch and drink my hot chocolate looking out across the Solent and enjoying the peace and quiet that Osborne House offers. 


A family came and sat to eat their picnic lunch near us and I noticed the ladies crocheted bag,
so I asked if she would mind if I took a photo of her bag - isn't it lovely?

We wandered up to the walled garden - but unfortunately the batteries in my camera ran out and I didn't have any spares with me!  The next time we have a lovely sunny day we will visit again and I'll make sure I have fresh batteries and some spares with me to share more of Osborne House and its beauty with you.

Thanks for popping by

xx Joy xx

7 comments:

  1. Well done coral and well done for being top supporters! It's so appreciated at any event. I was only saying to family last week when we met on the mainland that next time they come to us we must go to Osborne house as its a lovely day out and I haven't been in too many years and they had never been!! Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and yes it is a lovely day out at Osborne xx

      Delete
  2. Thank you Joy, your support was so appreciated that day and you coming over was such a lovely surprise!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are more than welcome Coral and well done for doing it xx

      Delete
  3. Fantastic blog post Joy! Huge well done to Coral :) I must admit in saying that I am a teensy but jealous of her, I would love to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower - mad or what!!

    We love Osborne House too. In fact, its where we first joined the English Heritage a few years ago. Each time we come to your lovely island, we go for a visit. We went there in February and wandered down to the beach. It was very cold but still pleasant. It is such a lovely place xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha Sarah ... yes mad I call it, but then I don't like heights.

      Glad you enjoy Osborne House, but yes cold in February and not too much open but it is still lovely to visit xx

      Delete
  4. Hello Joy, We really must visit the Isle of Wight. C is already booking holidays for 2016!!!!! So I must put in a word for IOW before the holiday budget gets spoken for. xxx

    ReplyDelete